Gaming device having multi-payline nudge reels

ABSTRACT

A processor controlled slot machine having a plurality of reels, each of which display a plurality of symbols on a display device. The slot machine provides a plurality of paylines although the slot machine may be adapted to be a single payline machine. The machines may have blanks or ghost symbols. When the player spins the reels, a plurality of symbols stop on the paystops of the display device. The game pays the player for any wins due to the initial spin. If a nudge activator occurs, and the player has accumulated a nudge or the nudge activator itself causes the nudge sequence, the game performs at least one nudge sequence, which at least moves one reel one paystop position. When the nudge sequence stops, slot machine pays the player again for any winning combinations that exist.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present invention relates to the following co-pendingcommonly owned U.S. patent applications: “Gaming Device Having MultipleAward Enhancing Levels,” filed on Jul. 27, 2000, Ser. No. 09/626,720,112300/014; “Gaming Device Having Multiple Award Enhancing Levels,”filed on Sep. 28, 2001, Ser. No. 09/967,016, 112300/882; “Gaming DeviceHaving Multiple Award Enhancing Levels,” filed on Sep. 28, 2001, Ser.No. 09/966,956, 112300/883; “Gaming Device Having Dual EvaluationScheme,” filed on Oct. 13, 2000, Ser. No. 09/687,689, 112300/474; and“Gaming Device Having A Symbol Covering Feature,” filed on Oct. 6, 2000,Ser. No. 09/684,275, 112300/154.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains ormay contain material which is subject to copyright protection. Thecopyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyoneof the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form itappears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, butotherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, andmore particularly to a gaming device having multi-payline nudge reels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Gaming device manufactures have long provided gaming machinesemploying a plurality of reels, wherein the reels each have a pluralityof symbols. In these games, the player “spins” a number of reels thatact independently to produce a random generation of a combination ofsymbols. If the generated combination, or a portion of the combination,such as the symbols along one or more paylines associated with thereels, matches one of a number of predetermined award producing orwinning combinations, the player receives an award.

[0005] To increase player enjoyment and excitement, and to increase thepopularity of the gaming machines, gaming device manufacturersconstantly strive to provide players with new types of gaming machinesthat attract the player and keep the player entertained. One waymanufacturers use to make their machines more popular is to increase thenumber and variety of award opportunities.

[0006] One popular game feature that increases the player's awardopportunities is commonly referred to as a “nudge” feature or option. Anudge occurs after the reels initially spin and stop. There are avariety of different nudge games.

[0007] In a player skill type of nudge game, when the reels stop, theplayer has an option to “nudge” one of the reels by indexing the reel upor down one or more positions in an attempt to achieve a winningcombination, usually along a payline associated with the reels. In somecases, the player has a number of nudges or a nudge bank from which theplayer uses the nudges as desired. In stepper or mechanical slotmachines, the player can usually see through the glass panel displaydevice and normally sees three positions on each reel strip. On a singlepayline machine this includes the payline position on each reel and thepositions immediately above and immediately below the payline position.The player can therefore see when one of the reels should be nudged. Itis also known to display, usually next to the reels, a map of the reelstrips that enables the player to determine the reel strip symbols.

[0008] This type of nudge game involves a level of skill because theplayer may not nudge a reel to create a new winning combination or mayalso nudge a winning combination off the payline. The skill nudge gameis not allowed in many gaming jurisdictions in the United States, but isvery popular in Europe and especially in England.

[0009] In an auto-response type of nudge game, the gaming machineautomatically nudges one or more reels when a certain event occurs. Theauto-response can be implemented in a variety of ways. In mostinstances, the auto-nudge employs a blank or ghost symbol. The blank orghost symbol is a non-symbol, which is normally not part of any winningcombination of the game's paytable. Therefore, nudging a blank off of apayline generally cannot hurt a player, i.e., remove a winningcombination from the payline (except in games such as where these blanksprovide an award).

[0010] In one known auto-nudge method, the game contains one or more“nudge symbols” that have a reel strip location next to a ghost symbolblank or between two blanks. Depending on the precise nudge symbol/blankjuxtaposition, the nudge symbol may nudge (move) up or down. If thenudge symbol is between two blanks, the symbol may nudge up or down.Normally, games having this auto-nudge method provide a nudge display ornudge help screen to inform the player.

[0011] In another known auto-nudge method, the game does not specify anyparticular symbol as a nudge symbol; but rather, the game ties the nudgeto the ghost symbol or blank. When the game generates a blank on apayline, the game randomly decides whether or not to nudge and if anudge is generated, the game also randomly generates whether to nudge upor down. The game makes the random decisions independent of the symbolsthat are eventually nudged. The game designer can place any suitablenumber of blanks on the reel strips as desired and control the overallpayout percentage by randomly generating the nudge a predeterminedpercentage of the time.

[0012] At least one known nudge game provides nudges until the playerobtains a winning combination. That is, if the first nudge does notgenerate a win for the player, the game moves another symbol in place ofthe originally nudged symbol and a new symbol combination is evaluatedfor a player win. This process is repeated until the player obtains awinning combination.

[0013] Nudging has become a popular feature on single payline games thathave blanks or ghost symbols. If the game does not have blank or ghostsymbols, however, the nudge can undo a winning combination by removing asymbol, necessary to the winning combination, from the payline. The gamedesigner could place a symbol that does not form a part of any winningcombination next to the nudge symbol, however, symbols on the reels thatdo not form part of any winning combination tend to confuse the players.It is therefore desirable not to display a symbol that effectivelyoperates as a blank or ghost symbol.

[0014] Another proven way game manufacturers have employed to make theirmachines more popular has also been to increase the number paylines fromone to many, such as, three, five, nine, ten, fifteen or twenty-five.Multi-payline games, however, do not cooperate well with nudge gamesbecause the multi-payline games use up the rows of symbols on thedisplay device above and below an interior payline. Therefore, nudging asymbol, which may cause a winning symbol combination to occur on onepayline, can also undue an existing winning combination on one or moreother paylines. If a nudge results in lowering the player's award, theplayer is not happy and the purpose of the nudge is undermined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention provides a processor controlled slotmachine gaming device having a plurality of reels, each of which have ordisplay a plurality of symbols on a display device having a plurality ofpaystops or symbol stops. The gaming device preferably provides aplurality of paylines although the gaming device may be adapted to be asingle payline machine. Either the single or multiple payline machinesof the present invention can, but are not required to have, blanks orghost symbols. When the player spins the reels, a plurality of symbolsstop in the paystops of the display device. The game pays the player forany wins due to the initial spin. If a nudge activator occurs, the gameperforms at least one nudge sequence, which at least moves one reel onepaystop position. When the nudge sequence stops, the gaming device paysthe player again for any winning combinations that exist.

[0016] The reels of the slot machine in one embodiment provide the nudgeactivator. In alternative embodiments, other random events besidesspinning the reels can provide the nudge activator. The nudge activatorinitiates the nudge sequence. The occurrence of the nudge activator maybe visible to the player (such as a reel symbol) or invisible to theplayer (such as based on a separate random generation). In oneembodiment, the occurrence of the nudge activator automatically executesthe nudge. In another embodiment, a separate “nudge incrementor” event,such as a symbol or combination of same appearing on the reels, providesthe player with a nudge, wherein the player activates the nudge toinitiate the nudge sequence. A nudge display is also provided in anembodiment to count down any accrued nudges to zero.

[0017] A single nudge or a plurality of nudges may be provided to theplayer either via a nudge incrementor or some other game event. When theplayer accrues multiple nudges, the nudge activator initiates only onenudge sequence in one embodiment, multiple nudge sequences in anotherembodiment and all accrued nudge sequences in a further embodiment. Ifthe nudge incrementor or other game event that provides the nudges is asymbol or symbol combination on the slot reels, a nudge sequence mayregenerate one or more additional nudges.

[0018] The gaming device includes a variety of different nudge sequencesand may be adapted to display only one of the sequences or vary thetypes of sequences on a predetermined or random basis. In general, thenudge sequences differ in terms of which reels move, how many reelsmove, the direction that one or more reels moves and how many paystopsthat one or more of the reels moves.

[0019] Each time a nudge sequence or reel move occurs, a new combinationof symbols occurs on at least one payline. The gaming device of thepresent invention pays the player for winning symbols or combinations onactive paylines before and after the nudge sequence. It is possible thatthe same winning symbol or combination moves from one active payline tothe next due to the nudge sequence. In this case, the game: (i) onlypays the player one time for the same combination; (ii) pays the playera second time if the symbols actually move, i.e., does not pay if thewinning combination does not move and remains on an active payline; or(iii) pays the player a second time regardless.

[0020] It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to providea gaming device that has a nudge sequence which does not have blanks orghost symbols.

[0021] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide amulti-payline gaming device that has a nudge sequence.

[0022] A further advantage of the present invention is to provide amulti-payline gaming device that has a nudge sequence and does not haveblanks or ghost symbols.

[0023] Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide avariety of different nudge arrangements.

[0024] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer tolike parts, elements, components, steps and processes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of alternative embodimentsof the gaming device of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the electronicconfiguration of one embodiment of the gaming device of the presentinvention.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram illustrating differentembodiments of the nudge payout method of the present invention.

[0028]FIGS. 4A and 4B are elevation views of one of the display devicesillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, which illustrate a single paylineembodiment of the present invention.

[0029]FIGS. 5A and 5B are elevation views of one of the display devicesillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, which illustrate a multi-paylineembodiment of the present invention.

[0030]FIGS. 6A and 6B are elevation views of one of the display devicesillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, which illustrate another multi-paylineembodiment of the present invention having one or more blank or ghostsymbols.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Gaming Device and Electronics

[0031] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1A and1B, gaming device 10 a and gaming device 10 b illustrate two possiblecabinet styles and display arrangements and are collectively referred toherein as gaming device 10. Gaming device 10 has the controls, displaysand features of a conventional slot machine, wherein the player operatesthe gaming device while standing or sitting. Gaming device 10 indifferent embodiments is a pub-style or table-top game (not shown),which a player usually operates while sitting.

[0032] The symbols and indicia used for the slot base game or any of itsbonus games include mechanical, electrical, electronic or video symbolsand indicia. Gaming device 10 includes monetary input devices. FIGS. 1Aand 1B illustrate a coin slot 12 for coins or tokens and/or a paymentacceptor 14 for cash money. The payment acceptor 14 also includes otherdevices for accepting payment, such as readers or validators for creditcards, debit cards or smart cards, tickets, notes, etc. When a playerinserts money in gaming device 10, a number of credits corresponding tothe amount deposited is shown in a credit display 16. After depositingthe appropriate amount of money, a player can begin the game by pullingarm 18 or pushing play button 20. Play button 20 can be any playactivator used by the player which starts any game or sequence of eventsin the gaming device.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, gaming device 10 also includes a betdisplay 22 and a bet one button 24. The player places a bet by pushingthe bet one button 24. The player can increase the bet by one crediteach time the player pushes the bet one button 24. When the playerpushes the bet one button 24, the number of credits shown in the creditdisplay 16 decreases by one, and the number of credits shown in the betdisplay 22 increases by one. A player may cash out by pushing a cash outbutton 26 to receive coins or tokens in the coin payout tray 28 or otherforms of payment, such as an amount printed on a ticket or credited to acredit card, debit card or smart card. Well known ticket printing andcard reading machines (not illustrated) are commercially available.

[0034] Gaming device 10 may also include one or more display devices.The embodiment shown in FIG. 1A includes a central display device 30,and the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 1B includes a centraldisplay device 30 as well as an upper display device 32. The displaydevices display any visual representation or exhibition, including butnot limited to movement of physical objects such as mechanical reels andwheels, dynamic lighting and video images. The display devices 30 or 32include any viewing surface such as glass, a video monitor or screen, aliquid crystal display or any other static or dynamic display mechanism.

[0035] The gaming device 10 of the present invention displays aplurality of reels 34, preferably three to five reels 34 in mechanicalor video form, on one or more of the display devices. Each reel 34displays a plurality of indicia such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers,letters, bars or other images that preferably correspond to a themeassociated with the gaming device 10. If the reels 34 are in video form,the display device displaying the video reels 34 is preferably a videomonitor. Gaming device 10 also includes speakers 36 for making sounds orplaying music.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 2, a general electronic configuration ofthe gaming device 10 for the stand alone and bonus embodiments describedabove preferably includes: a processor 38; a memory device 40 forstoring program code or other data; a central display device 30; anupper display device 32; a sound card 42; a plurality of speakers 36;and one or more input devices 44. The processor 38 is preferably amicroprocessor or microcontroller-based platform which is capable ofdisplaying images, symbols and other indicia such as images of people,characters, places, things and faces of cards. The memory device 40includes random access memory (RAM) 46 for storing event data or otherdata generated or used during a particular game. The memory device 40also includes read only memory (ROM) 48 for storing program code, whichcontrols the gaming device 10 so that it plays a particular game inaccordance with applicable game rules and pay tables.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the player preferably uses the inputdevices 44 to input signals into gaming device 10. In the slot machinebase game, the input devices 44 include the pull arm 18, play button 20,the bet one button 24 and the cash out button 26. A touch screen 50 andtouch screen controller 52 are connected to a video controller 54 andprocessor 38. The terms “computer” or “controller” are used herein torefer collectively to the processor 38, the memory device 40, the soundcard 42, the touch screen controller and the video controller 54.

[0038] In certain instances, it is preferable to use a touch screen 50and an associated touch screen controller 52 instead of a conventionalvideo monitor display device. The touch screen enables a player to inputdecisions into the gaming device 10 by sending a discrete signal basedon the area of the touch screen 50 that the player touches or presses.As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the processor 38 connects to the coinslot 12 or payment acceptor 14, whereby the processor 38 requires aplayer to deposit a certain amount of money in to start the game.

[0039] It should be appreciated that although a processor 38 and memorydevice 40 are preferable implementations of the present invention, thepresent invention also includes being implemented via one or moreapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's), one or morehard-wired devices, or one or more mechanical devices (collectively andindividually referred to herein as a “processor”). Furthermore, althoughthe processor 38 and memory device 40 preferably reside in each gamingdevice 10 unit, the present invention includes providing some or all oftheir functions at a central location such as a network server forcommunication to a playing station such as over a local area network(LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection, microwave link, andthe like.

[0040] To operate the gaming device 10 as illustrated by FIGS. 1A and1B, the player inserts the appropriate amount of tokens or money in thecoin slot 12 or the payment acceptor 14 and then pulls the arm 18 orpushes the play button 20. The reels 34 then begin to spin. Eventually,the reels 34 come to a stop. As long as the player has creditsremaining, the player can spin the reels 34 again. Depending upon wherethe reels 34 stop, the player may or may not win additional credits.

[0041] In addition to winning credits from the slot game, gaming device10 in one embodiment may also include one or more bonus games that giveplayers the opportunity to win credits. The gaming device 10 may employa video-based display device 30 or 32 for the bonus games. The bonusgames include a program that automatically begins when the playerachieves a qualifying condition in the base game.

[0042] The qualifying condition includes a particular symbol or symbolcombination generated on a display device. As illustrated in the fivereel slot game shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, one qualifying conditionincludes the number seven appearing on, e.g., three adjacent reels 34along a payline 56. It should be appreciated that the present inventionincludes one or more paylines, such as payline 56, wherein the paylinescan be horizontal, diagonal or any combination thereof. An alternativescatter pay qualifying condition may include the number seven appearingon, e.g., three adjacent reels 34 but not necessarily along a payline56, appearing on any different set of reels 34 three times or appearinganywhere on the display device the necessary number of times.

Multi-Payline Nudge Reels

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 3, one method 100 for operating the nudgegame of the present invention is illustrated. When gaming device 10receives the appropriate monetary input from the player, as indicatedabove and by block 102, the game enables the player to spin the reels 30(FIGS. 1A and 1B), as indicated by block 104. After the player pressesthe play button 20 or pulls the pull arm 18, the reels 34 spin and stopon one of the display devices 30 or 32 and display a first set ofsymbols to the player, as indicated by block 106.

[0044] The processor provides a first payout to the player for anywinning symbol or symbol combination that appears along any payline 56that the player has wagered, as indicated by block 108. The method 100applies to single or multiple payline games. The method 100 also applieswhether or not the reels 34 include blanks or ghost symbols.

[0045] The processor determines whether a nudge activator exists or hasoccurred, as indicated by diamond 110. The occurrence of a nudgeactivator in one embodiment is transparent to the player. For example,in one embodiment, the processor performs a random generation separatefrom the reel spins to determine when a nudge activator occurs. Thisrandom generation in one implementation is weighted according to theplayer's bet, e.g., when the player bets more, the nudge activator ismore likely to occur. The random generation in another implementation isweighted so that the longer play continues without the occurrence of anudge activator, the more likely its occurrence becomes. It should beappreciated that any suitable method for determining whether a nudgeactivator is present may be employed.

[0046] The occurrence of a nudge activator in other embodiments isvisible to the player. For example, in one embodiment, a particularsymbol or symbol combination on the reels 34 is the nudge activator. Inone implementation of this embodiment, the symbol or symbol combinationmust occur on a payline 56 that the player has wagered. In anotherimplementation, the symbol or symbol combination appearing anywhere onthe reels 34 is sufficient.

[0047] Gaming device 10 in another embodiment does not use the reelsymbols and employs the upper display device 32 (if the central displaydevice 30 displays the reels 34) or a separate display device, such as awheel (not shown), to display the random occurrence of a nudge activatorfor each spin of the reels. In either embodiment, a display for thenudge activator may be adapted to display any one or combination of thefollowing: (i) a preferably enjoyable and exciting sequence informingthe player that the nudge activator has occurred; (ii) a display of oneor more nudges that the game provides to the player; and (iii) a counterthat counts down from the number of nudges acquired to zero nudges asthe nudge sequences take place.

[0048] If after spinning the reels as indicated in block 106 andproviding an associated award as indicated by block 108, the gamingdevice 10 determines that a nudge activator has occurred as indicated byblock 110, a first nudge sequence is displayed, as indicated by block112. In one embodiment, the nudge activator, at the very least,initiates one nudge sequence.

[0049] The nudge activator in one embodiment also provides or enablesthe nudge and thereby immediately initiates the corresponding nudgesequence. In another embodiment, the nudge activator provides aplurality of nudges and thereby initiates multiple nudge sequences forthe multiple provided nudges.

[0050] In a further embodiment, a nudge incrementor, such as a differentreel symbol or combination, provides or increments one or more nudges,wherein the activator activates the nudge, that is, initiates the nudgesequence or move. Here, it is possible that the player can accumulatemultiple nudges. The nudge incrementor can provide one or multiple ofnudges. Gaming device 10 can also generate multiple incrementors,thereby accumulating multiple nudges, before generating a nudgeactivator. A generated nudge activator can activate multiple nudges, aslong as the player has accumulated multiple nudges. At the same time, agenerated nudge activator may not activate a nudge if the player has notaccumulated at least one nudge. The accumulation of nudges can occurduring a single game or a series of games.

[0051] In yet another embodiment, when gaming device 10 generates anudge activator, gaming device 10 saves the activator or maintains itsactivation, when the player has not accumulated a nudge, until theplayer accumulates the nudge with a nudge incrementor. This embodimentmakes gaming device 10 more exciting because the accumulation of nudgesindicates that there will be a nudge in a subsequent game and possiblyan award therefrom.

[0052] The nudge sequences can be implemented in many different ways.Several different nudge sequence implementations are illustrated below.In each nudge sequence, whether gaming device 10 includes a single or aplurality of paylines 56 (FIGS. 1A and 1B), at least one reel 34 shiftsat least one position up or one position down. Unless the same symbolremoved from the payline 56 is shifted onto the payline 56, the reelshift creates a new combination of symbols along at least one payline56. If the reels 34 of the gaming device 10 include blanks or ghostsymbols, the nudge can result in one or more additional combinations andalso result in removing one or more combinations.

[0053] The game provides a second payout to the player for any winningsymbol or symbol combination that appears along any payline 56 that theplayer has wagered, as indicated by block 114. As described above, inone embodiment, obtaining the nudge activator as indicated by block 110may provide the player with one or more nudges.

[0054] In one embodiment, gaming device 10 performs only a single nudgesequence when the player achieves a nudge activator even if the nudgeactivator provides, or the player has already obtained, multiple nudgesequences. That is, after providing the second payout as indicated byblock 114, the game does not perform another nudge sequence, asdetermined in connection with diamond 116. In this case, gaming device10 enables another reel spin as indicated by block 104 as long as theplayer has maintained the appropriate monetary input as indicated byblock 102. If the nudge activator, or another gaming device 10 event,has provided more than one nudge as indicated by block 110, the leftovernudges remain and the player must obtain other nudge activators to usethem, i.e., one at a time.

[0055] In another embodiment, if the nudge activator provides, or theplayer has already obtained, multiple nudge sequences, gaming device 10performs multiple nudge sequences until all nudges are exhausted. Thatis, after providing the second payout as indicated by block 114, thereis another nudge sequence as long as the player has a remaining nudge,as determined in connection with diamond 116. The game displays the nextnudge sequence, which may again be one of many types of sequences, asindicated by the block 118, and which results in one or more new symbolcombinations on at least one payline. The game thereafter providesanother payout to the player for any winning symbol or symbolcombination that appears along any payline 56 that the player haswagered, as indicated by block 114. This process repeats until allacquired nudges are exhausted. In a further embodiment (notillustrated), the game may limit consecutive nudge sequences to apredefined or randomly determined number.

[0056] As indicated by blocks 112 and 118, the player can accumulatenudges. This can be done in various ways. First, the nudge activator mayalso act as a nudge incrementor and provide one or more nudges to theplayer. Second, a separate “nudge incrementor” symbol or symbolcombination of the reels 34 may also be generated that provides a nudgeor nudges to the player. Here the player also needs to generate a nudgeactivator to activate one or more of the accrued nudges. Third, a bonusgame or the player's wager, such as the paylines played, wager perpayline or total bet can generate or effect the probability of obtainingand accumulating a nudge.

[0057] Either the nudge incrementor or nudge activator can be a symbolon one of the reels 34 or part of one of the symbols on a reel. Thenudge symbol also could be a wild symbol that acts as both anincrementor (providing a nudge) and an activator (executing the nudge).Whenever the wild nudge symbol appears, such as a “Double Diamond”symbol, the reel displaying the “Double Diamond” nudges up or down oneor more predetermined or randomly determined positions. The “DoubleDiamond” symbols can but do not have to be placed adjacent to one ormore ghost symbols.

[0058] In another embodiment, nudge indicia is provided in combinationwith an existing symbol to create a nudge sub-symbol. For example,gaming device 10 can have one or more reels with cherry symbols andcherry symbols additionally provided with the word “nudge”. Thiscombination symbol operates with gaming device 10 so that any payscreated by the cherry symbol alone are made, whereafter, the reeldisplaying the cherry-nudge symbol nudges or shifts one or more spots upor down randomly or in a predetermined manner.

[0059] In another embodiment, the nudge sequence is capable ofgenerating an additional nudge incrementor or a self-starting nudgeactivator. The additional nudge or nudges may be generated and providedregardless of whether gaming device 10 performs one nudge sequence pernudge activator or exhausts all the player's nudge sequences upon thegeneration of a nudge activator. Gaming device 10 may iterate throughmany nudge sequences, as some of the sequences generate and add back tothe nudge count, before the player's nudges become exhausted. In eachsequence, gaming device 10 pays out for any winning symbol or symbolcombination that results.

[0060] In still a further embodiment, gaming device 10 provides anelectromechanical or simulated input device 44 that enables the playerto selectively choose when to use a nudge. For example, gaming device 10can provide a “nudge row” button or input that operates with the touchscreen 50 and touch screen controller 52 associated with one of thedisplay devices 30 or 32 to enable the player to choose selectively whento use a nudge. This embodiment may require player skill to use nudgeswisely, nevertheless, certain gaming jurisdictions allow and indeedrequire some level of player skill.

[0061] Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, 5A and 5B and 6A and 6B,several embodiments of the nudge sequence are illustrated. FIGS. 4A and4B illustrate a single payline 56 embodiment. That is, even though thedisplay device 30 or 32 displays three rows of symbols for the reels 34a through 34 e, the player can only wager the single payline 56, whichis the middle row. Accordingly, the player can only win along the singlerow or payline 56.

[0062] If “diamond, 7, 7” and “7, 7, 7” are winning combinations, theplayer currently has a “diamond, 7, 7” win along the payline 56 in FIG.4A. If the nudge sequence moves the left most reel 34 a up one positionso that the top row of paystops of the display device 30 or 32 displaysthe “diamond” symbol and the middle row of paystops displays the 7symbol, as indicated in FIG. 4B, the known nudge presents a dilemma forthe player. That is, the player gains the “7, 7, 7” win of FIG. 4B butloses the “diamond, 7, 7” win of FIG. 4A (where such combinationprovides a will according to the pay table of the game). This may or maynot result in a net gain for the player. Moreover, if the nudge does notresult in the “7, 7, 7” win shown in FIG. 4B, the player loses the“diamond, 7, 7” win without any compensation. Nudging wins off a paylinewill not likely make the game very popular.

[0063] In the present invention, however, gaming device 10 provides bothwins for the player because the game pays out before and after thenudge. That is, gaming device 10 pays out all wins appearing on thepayline 56 when the reels 34 come to rest in the position shown in FIG.4A. The game performs the nudge sequence and then pays out all winsappearing on the payline 56 when the reels come to rest in the positionshown in FIG. 4B. The game therefore pays the “diamond, 7, 7” win inFIG. 4A before the nudge sequence and the “7, 7, 7” win in FIG. 4B afterthe nudge sequence.

[0064]FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a multiple payline 56 a through 56 cembodiment. Here, for example, the player can wager and win on onepayline 56 a, two paylines 56 a and 56 b or three paylines 56 a through56 c. The display device 30 or 32 includes fifteen different paystops,which are an array of segments of the glass defined by the reels 34 athrough 34 e and the paylines 56 a through 56 c. Thus, the paystop 56 a,34 a of the display device 30 or 32 contains the “diamond” symbol inFIG. 5A before the nudge sequence takes place. FIGS. 5A and 5B also showin phantom a row of symbols above and below the display device 30 or 32.There is currently no paystop of the display device 30 or 32 whichdisplays these symbols, however, one or more of these symbols may benudged onto a paystop, i.e., onto one of the paylines 56 a through 56 c.FIGS. 5A and 5B therefore illustrate the phantom symbols on the reelstrips adjacent to the displayed symbols of the paystops of the displaydevice 30 or 32.

[0065] Again, if “diamond, 7, 7” and “7, 7, 7” are winning combinations,and if the nudge sequence involves moving the reel 34 a up one positionso that the paystop 56 b, 34 a of the display device 30 or 32 displaysthe “diamond” symbol and the paystop 56 a, 34 a displays the “7” symbolas illustrated in FIG. 5B, gaming device 10 of the present inventionprovides to the player the “diamond, 7, 7” win on line 56 a in FIG. 5Aand the “7, 7, 7” win on line 56 a in FIG. 5B. That is, gaming device 10pays out before and after the nudge sequence.

[0066] It should be appreciated that if “grape, grape” on the paystops56 b, 34 a and 56 b, 34 b along payline 56 b also pays as a winningcombination, the player also wins for this combination appearing in FIG.5A. Further, if “cherry, cherry, cherry” on the paystops 56 c, 34 a; 56c, 34 b; and 56 c, 34 c along payline 56 c pays, the player also winsfor this combination appearing in FIG. 5B after the nudge sequence.

[0067] If the nudge sequence moves a winning symbol or symbolcombination up or down to another active payline or if the winningsymbol or combination otherwise exists before and after the nudgesequence, gaming device 10 may provide an associated award: (i) beforethe nudge sequence only; (ii) before and after the nudge sequence butafter only if the symbol or symbols move due to the nudge; and (iii)before and after the nudge sequence regardless of whether the winningcombination changes paystops due to the nudge sequence. The payout mayalso depend upon whether the player has played the payline on which thewinning symbol or combination appears. Thus, a winning symbol or symbolcombination may be adapted to provide awards two or more times if it isnot nudged off of the display device 30 or 32.

[0068] For example, assume the “grape, grape” symbols on payline 56 b inFIG. 5A provide a payout to the player. If the “grape, grape” symbolsmove collectively to one of the other paylines 56 a or 56 c due to anudge sequence, gaming device 10 may payout again according to one ofthe above-described scenarios. Or if the “grape, grape” symbols do notmove but are displayed in both FIGS. 5A and 5B, the gaming device 10 maypay out before and after the nudge sequence, wherein gaming device 10may be adapted to only pay if the player wagers on the payline bearingthe winning symbol or combination.

[0069] Similarly, if one of the symbols is a nudge incrementor or nudgeactivator that provides one or more nudges to the player, i.e.,increments a nudge meter or indicator (not illustrated), the game may beadapted to provide the nudge(s) (and possibly provide another nudgesequence if the nudge activator automatically executes the nudge): (i)before the nudge sequence only; (ii) before and after the nudge sequencebut after the sequence only if the nudge incrementor or activator movesdue to the nudge sequence; and (iii) before and after the nudge sequenceregardless of whether the nudge incrementor or activator changesposition due to the nudge sequence. Thus, the same nudge incrementor oractivator may be adapted to provide nudge(s) two or more times if thesymbol or symbols are not nudged off of the display device 30 or 32.Again, gaming device 10 in an embodiment requires that the nudgeincrementor or activator resides on an active payline to provide a nudge(and possible the nudge sequence) to the player.

[0070] For example, assume the “club” symbol on payline 56 a in FIG. 5Ais a nudge incrementor or activator that provides at least one nudge tothe player. If the “club” symbol moves to one of the other paylines 56 bor 56 c due to the nudge sequence, gaming device 10 may provideadditional one or more nudges (and possibly additional one or more nudgesequences) again according to one of the above-described scenarios.

[0071]FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate only one possible multi-paylineembodiment. The pay before/pay after sequence of the present inventionis applicable to any combination of paylines 56, for example,horizontal, diagonal or paylines including any combination adjacentsymbols from each reel. The present invention is applicable to a gamingdevice having any number of reels and any number of paylines such asone, three, five, nine, ten, fifteen and twenty-five paylines. Thepresent invention also applies to gaming devices having independent reelcolumns, which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 09/688,428, assigned tothe assignee of this invention, which is incorporated herein byreference.

[0072]FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the same multi-payline embodiment as inFIGS. 5A and 5B except that in FIG. 5A, paystop 56 e, 34 c, paystop 56d, 34 a and one of the hidden symbols of the row below the displaydevice 30 or 32 contain a blank or ghost symbol 58. Blank symbols can beemployed to the single payline embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B, however,gaming device 10 may easily be adapted never to nudge a blank onto thesingle payline 56. In FIG. 6A, however, nudging reel 34 a up one paystopcauses the blank 58 currently residing at the paystop 56 d, 34 a toshift to the payline 56 e, as illustrated in 6B, which disrupts the“grape, grape” winning combination along payline 56 e in FIG. 6A. Gamingdevice 10 of the present invention therefore pays the “grape, grape” inFIG. 6A first and then nudges the reel 34 a to create the “7, 7, 7”combination along payline 56 d in FIG. 6B. In this manner, the blank 58does not take a win away from the player.

[0073] In any of the embodiments disclosed in connection with FIGS. 4, 5and 6, the nudge sequence may be adapted to include any of thefollowing: (i) nudging any one reel up or down one paystop; (ii) nudgingany combination of reels including all the reels up or down one paystop;(iii) nudging any one reel up or down a plurality of paystops; (iv)nudging any combination of reels including all the reels up or down aplurality of paystops; (v) nudging any one reel up one or more paystopsand, in the same sequence, nudging any one reel down one or morepaystops; and (vi) nudging any combination of reels up one or morepaystops and, in the same sequence, nudging any combination of reelsdown one or more paystops.

[0074] Many known slot machines have independent reel control throughstepper motors that independently control each reel, wherein the steppermotors are adapted to receive motor currents based on the outcome ofrandom generation devices stored in software in memory device 40 or insome other computer storage device within or associated with gamingdevice 10. Those skilled in the art are therefore adept at achieving thevarious sequences disclosed herein.

[0075] Gaming device 10 may be adapted to provide the same nudgesequence time after time or vary the sequences on a predetermined orrandom basis. If randomly varied, the set of sequences from which arandom generation device selects may be weighted according to anydesired distribution. In one embodiment, gaming device 10 accompaniesthe nudge sequences with a suitable audio message from the speakers 36,such as “NUDGE NOW.”

[0076] While the present invention is described in connection with whatis presently considered to be the most practical and preferredembodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limitedto the disclosed embodiments, and is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the claims. Modifications and variations in the presentinvention may be made without departing from the novel aspects of theinvention as defined in the claims, and this application is limited onlyby the scope of the claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A gaming device comprising: aplurality of reels each having a plurality of symbols; a display devicethat enables a player to see a number of symbols on each reel, creatinga plurality of visible symbols; a payline that designates certain of thevisible symbols for a payout determination; a first payout provided tothe player if the reels spin and produce a first set of symbols on thepayline that generates a winning combination; a randomly determinednudge activator; a nudge sequence initiated by the nudge activator anddisplayed by the display device, wherein one of the visible symbols onone of the reels in the first set is shifted so that a second set ofsymbols appears on the payline; and a second payout provided to theplayer if the second set of symbols generates a winning combination. 2.The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the nudge activator is generatedupon a spin of the reels.
 3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein thenudge activator includes at least one of the visible symbols.
 4. Thegaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of nudge sequencesand wherein the nudge activator initiates a plurality of sequentialnudge sequences.
 5. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes asecond nudge sequence displayed by the display device in which a symbolof the second set is shifted off of the payline.
 6. The gaming device ofclaim 5, wherein the display device defines a plurality of paystops thatare each stopping positions for the symbols, and wherein shiftingvisible symbols of the first and second nudge sequences occurs in thesame paystop.
 7. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the displaydevice defines a plurality of paystops that are each stopping positionsfor the symbols, and wherein shifting visible symbols of the first andsecond nudge sequences occurs in different paystops.
 8. The gamingdevice of claim 1, wherein the nudge sequence shifts a plurality ofsymbols of the first set.
 9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein thedisplay device defines a plurality of paystops that are each stoppingpositions for the symbols, and wherein the nudge sequence includes oneof: nudging one of the reels up one paystop; nudging one of the reelsdown one paystop; nudging a plurality of the reels up one paystop;nudging a plurality of the reels down one paystop; nudging a pluralityof the reels up a plurality of paystops; nudging a plurality of thereels down a plurality of paystops; nudging one of the reels up at leastone paystop and nudging another one of the reels down at least onepaystop; and nudging a plurality of the reels up at least one paystopwhile nudging a plurality of the reels down at least one paystop.
 10. Agaming device comprising: a plurality of reels each having a pluralityof symbols; a display device that enables a player to see a number ofsymbols on each reel, creating a plurality of visible symbols; aplurality of paylines that each designate certain of the visiblesymbols, from the plurality of visible symbols, for a payoutdetermination; a first payout provided to the player if the reels spinand produce first sets of symbols along the paylines that generate awinning combination; a nudge sequence displayed by the display device inwhich one of the reels is moved to form second sets of symbols thatappear on the paylines; and a second payout provided to the player ifthe second sets generate a winning combination.
 11. The gaming device ofclaim 10, wherein the first and second payouts include an accumulationof at least one winning symbol or symbol combination along at least oneof the paylines.
 12. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes anudge activator generated upon a spin of the reels, wherein the nudgeactivator initiates the nudge sequence.
 13. The gaming device of claim12, wherein the nudge activator includes at least one of the visiblesymbols.
 14. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the nudge activatorincludes a portion of one of the visible symbols.
 15. The gaming deviceof claim 10, which includes a nudge activator generated upon a spin ofthe reels, wherein the nudge activator initiates a plurality ofsequential nudge sequences.
 16. The gaming device of claim 10, whichincludes a second nudge sequence displayed by the display device whereinone of the symbols of each of the second sets of symbols is moved off ofthe respective payline.
 17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein thedisplay device defines a plurality of paystops that are each stoppingpositions for the symbols, wherein moving symbols during the first andsecond nudge sequences takes place in the same paystops.
 18. The gamingdevice of claim 16, wherein the display device defines a plurality ofpaystops that are each stopping positions for the symbols, whereinmoving symbols during the first and second nudge sequences takes placein different paystops.
 19. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein thenudge sequence moves a plurality of symbols of at least one of the firstsets.
 20. A gaming device comprising: a plurality of reels each having aplurality of symbols; a display device that enables a player to see anumber of the symbols on each reel, creating a plurality of visiblesymbols; a plurality of paylines that each designate certain of thevisible symbols, from the plurality of symbols, for a payoutdetermination; a nudge activator generated upon a spin of the reels thatinitiates at least one nudge sequence, each sequence shifting a visiblesymbol off of each payline; and a payout determination after each nudgesequence.
 21. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the nudge sequenceincludes moving one of the reels to shift the visible symbol off thepayline.
 22. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the nudge activatorincludes at least one of the visible symbols and wherein at least one ofthe nudge sequences produces another nudge activator.
 23. The gamingdevice of claim 20, wherein the nudge activation includes a portion ofone of the visible symbols.
 24. The gaming device of claim 20, whereinthe sequence includes shifting one of the visible symbols to become notvisible and, on the same reel, shifting a previously unseen symbol tobecome one of the visible symbols.
 25. A method of operating a gamingdevice having a plurality of paylines, said method comprising the stepsof: (a) generating a first set of symbols on the paylines; (b) providinga first award to a player if the first award is generated by the firstset of symbols; (c) providing a nudge sequence display in which one ofthe reels moves, generating a second set of symbols on the paylines; and(d) providing a second award to the player if the second award isgenerated by the second set of symbols.
 26. The method of claim 25,which includes the step of accumulating a nudge prior to providing thenudge sequence.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein accumulating thenudge occurs upon the occurrence of an event other than the generationof said symbols.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the event isselected from the group consisting of: a bonus game and an amount of theplayer's wager.
 29. The method of claim 25, which includes generating anudge activator that initiates the nudge sequence.
 30. The method ofclaim 25, wherein the first set of symbols provides a nudge activatorthat initiates the nudge sequence.
 31. The method of claim 25, whichincludes generating a nudge incrementor that provides a nudge prior togenerating the first set of symbols and generating a nudge activator inthe first set of symbols that activates the nudge.
 32. The method ofclaim 25, which includes providing the first award to the player againif one or more of the symbols that generate the first award appear againin the second set of symbols.
 33. The method of claim 25, which includesproviding the first award to the player again if one or more of thesymbols that generate the first award change position due to the nudgesequence and appear on another active payline.
 34. The method of claim25, which includes providing a second nudge sequence after generatingthe first set of symbols.
 35. The method claim 25, which includesgenerating a nudge incrementor that provides a plurality of nudges priorto generating the first set of symbols.
 36. The method claim 25, whichincludes generating a plurality of nudge incrementors that provide aplurality of nudges prior to generating the first set of symbols. 37.The method of claim 25, which includes providing a second nudge sequenceafter generating the second set of symbols.
 38. The method of claim 37,which includes providing the nudge sequence when a nudge activatorappears in the first set and providing the second nudge sequence whenthe same nudge activator appears in the second set of symbols.
 39. Themethod of claim 38, wherein the same nudge activator generates thesecond sequence when the nudge activator changes position due to thefirst nudge sequence.
 40. The method of claim 38, wherein the same nudgeactivator generates the second sequence if the nudge activator appearson an active payline in the second set of symbols.
 41. The method ofclaim 37, which includes providing the nudge sequence when a first nudgeactivator appears in the first set and providing the second nudgesequence when a second nudge activator appears in the second set ofsymbols.
 42. The method of claim 25, which includes providing a firstnudge to the player when a nudge incrementor appears in the first set ofsymbols and providing a second nudge to the player when the same nudgeincrementor appears in the second set of symbols.
 43. The method ofclaim 42, wherein the same nudge incrementor provides the second nudgeto the player when the nudge incrementor changes position due to thenudge sequence.
 44. The method of claim 42, wherein the same nudgeincrementor provides the second nudge to the player if the nudgeincrementor appears on an active payline in the second set of symbols.45. The method of claim 25, which includes providing a first nudge tothe player when a first nudge incrementor appears in the first set andproviding a second nudge to the player when a second nudge incrementorappears in the second set of symbols.
 46. The method of claim 25, whichincludes generating a nudge activator prior to generating the first setof symbols and providing the nudge sequence upon generating a nudgeincrementor in the first set.
 47. The method of claim 25, which includesproviding steps (a) to (e) through a data network.
 48. The method ofclaim 47, wherein the data network is an internet.